Rumi Darvaza, Lucknow
Note, the rushed style of the following narration is an attempt to imitate the speed with which Cat's trip went by:
Cathy visited me last week and it was awesome. We jam packed as much as we could into 6 days. If she was jet lagged, I didn’t know it because we jumped on the Metro on Friday morning and began touring Delhi. Friday included: Jama Masjid, Lal Qila, Chandni Chowk, Jantar Mantar, Connaught Place, Bangla Sahib, and Dilli Haat. Of note, were the white foreigners in loud smocks that looked like they were hospitalized patients on a field trip at the Jama Masjid. Saturday we found a $200 itinerary to/in Agra on the web, copied it, and did it in $25 bucks. The Taj Mahal was just as gorgeous as ever and I got to see Fatehpur Sikri for the first time. Akbar was quite a baller. I was really impressed by all of his religious tolerance and pluralism efforts. Not so impressed by the inundation of touts. They all also claimed to be each other’s younger brother. We also got to visit my Bua’s family in Meena Bazaar. It was really nice to hang out with them for a little bit. Sunday included a very memorable bus ride to Akshardham. We spent most of our day there (in lines) and learning a very agenda driven history. Afterwards we went shopping in Pahad Ganj and got some excellent deals! Next on the list was mass at the Sacred Heart Church in Connaught Place. It was neat having Cathy pointing out the cultural differences, most amusing being the fact that a simple Namaste replaces the American handshake “peace unto you?” ritual.
tonga ride!
Cathy has had too much sun!
beautiful jaali at Fahtepur sikri
fob style (angry face and all)
can you spot the foreigners?
Lal Qila
The trip would not have been complete without a train snafu. Long story short, we got a ticket to from DEL to LKO 10 minutes before the departure. I’m glad we ended the trip in Lucknow. On Monday, we took a really long cycle rickshaw ride from Hazrat Ganj to Naqaas and then walked from Naqaas to Gol Darwaza. On the way we tried yummy Kashmiri chai and kulcha. The kebabs were too spicy for Cat. I also maxed her out on the typical Indian bazaar, so I scratched Aminabad off the list. On Tuesday we hit up the Residency and the Imambara which included a tonga ride! I’m glad I got to visit the Imambara again. This time we didn’t take a guide into the bhul bhulaiya and realized that the maze isn’t so convoluted as the guides make it out to be. After some more shopping in Hazrat ganj, we had a lazziz Mughali meal at Royal Café. On Cat’s last day, we did what all visitors need to take advantage…cheap beauty salon services!! Def one of the things I will miss most about India J All and all, I’m so elated that Cathy came to visit and that I got to show her a glimpse of “Incredible India” and my life in lovely Lucknow.
mosque at Bara Imambara, Lucknow
